Control valve



Aug. 15, 1933. H. P. wlcKERsHAM Er AL 1,922,225

CONTROL VALVE @www Aug. 15, 1933 H. P. wlcKERsHAM ET AL 1,922,225

CONTROL VALVE Filed Jan. 14, 1951 2 sheeis-sneet 2 Patented Aug. 15, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONTROL VALVE Harry P. Wlckersham,

Huntington Park, and

13 Claims.

This invention relates to a control valve,rand relates more particularly to a control valve or control head for a well.

It is a general object of the invention to provide a simple, practical, and eil'ective control valve for use on the upper end of a well casing.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improvement in control valves of the general character fully described and claimed in our co-pending application entitled Control head, Serial Number 480,324, led September 8, 1930.

It is another object of the invention to provide a control head or control valve that is operable to close off the upper end of a well casing when a drill pipe, or the like, is extending into the well, and is operable to close off the well casing when the drill pipe is removed from the well.

It is another object of the invention to provide a well control valve of the character mentioned that is particularly simple and sturdy in construction and that may be easily and quickly operated.

It is another object of the invention to provide a control head or control valve for a well that embodies two closure members operable to seal about a drill pipe, or the like, extending into the well and a plug carried by one of the closure members operable to a position where it may be sealed about by the two closure members to completely close oil the well when the drill pipe or drilling tools are removed from the well.

It is another object of the invention to provide a control valve of the character mentioned in which the two closure members may be operated by actuating or turning a single shaft.

It is another object of the invention to provide a control valve of the character mentioned that embodies means for handling or passing the circulation fluid discharged from the upper end of the well casing during drilling operations. The control head provided by the present invention may be left on the well during normal operations and does not interfere with the passage of the drilling tools or circulation flui through the casing.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an embodiment wherein a plug may be operated to the closed position in an opening in the valve members after the valve members are in the fully actuated positions.

Other objects and` features of the invention will be best and more fully understood from the following detailed. description of typical preferred forms of the invention, throughout which description reference will be had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical detailed sectional view of the device illustrating the valve members in sealing enagement with a drill pipe extending into the well casing. Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the plug in position between the valve members. Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical detailed sectional view of the valve means illustrating the plug in position in one of the valve members prior to actuation of the valve. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detailed sectional view taken substantially as indicated by line 4--4 on Fig. 2. Fig.

5 is a reduced horizontal detailed sectional view of the valve, being a view taken through the valve means when in the sealing position about a drill pipe. Fig. 6 is a'. vertical detailed sectional view of the valve means of another embodiment of the invention.

The embodiment of the present invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive of the drawings includes, generally, a housing or body 10 adapted to be mounted on the upper end of a well casing C, two closure members or valve members A and B operable to seal oli? around a 30 drill pipe P, or the like, extending into the casing C, means l1 for operating the valve members A and B, a plug 12 operable to co-operate with the valve members A and B to close the upper end of the well casing C when the drill 35 pipe Pis removed, and means 13 for operating the l plug 12.

The housing or body 10 is provided to encase the various working parts of the device and is adapted to be applied to the upper end of the well casing C. The body l0 may include a main section 14 and an end plate or head l5. The main section 14 may be cylindrical in its general configuration and is chambered, being provided with a horizontally elongated opening or chamber 16. The chamber 16 may be round in cross section and may have a horizontal longitudinal axis normal to the vertical axis of the Well casing C. A vertical opening 17 is provided in a boss 18 on the lower end of the section 14 100 to receive the upper end of the casing C. The casing C may be screw-threaded into the opening 17. A vertical opening 20 is provided in the upper wall of the body section 14 in direct vertical register with the opening 1'?. An extension 105 21 of the casing C may extend upwardly from the opening 20. A collar 22 may be threaded on the lower end of the tubular extension 21 and bolts or screws 23 may be provided to attach the collar to the body section 14. Suitable packing 24 may be provided between the collar 22 and the body section 14. 'Ihe extension 21 and the opening 20 constitute a continuation of the casing opening and are adapted to pass the drilling tools, etc. The chamber 16 intersects the passing into the well bore formed by the openings 17 and 20.

The inner end of the chamber 16 is closed by an integral end Wall 25 of the body section 14. Tre body 10 is adapted to handle or pass the circulation fluid discharged upwardly from the casing C during drilling operations. A discharge conduit 26 may extend into an opening 27 in the wall 25 to pass fluid from the chamber 16. In the preferred form of the invention, the opening 27 is provided adjacent the lower end of the wall 25 to prevent the -circulation fluid from reaching a high level in the chamber 16 and interfering with the operation of the valve members A and B. The discharge conduit 26 is preferably of substantially the same diameter or capacity as the opening 17. A suitable gate valve (not shown) may be provided on the conduit 26 to control the flow of fluid therethrough. It will be apparent that the valve on the conduit 26 may be normally open and that it may be closed prior to operation of the means 11 to close or seal the body 10.

The end plate 15 is provided to close the outer end of. the chamber 16. The head or end plate 15 may be attached to the body section 14 by means of a flange and bolt connection 28. Suitable packing 29 may be provided between the end of the body section 14 and the inner side of the end plate 15.

The closure members or valve members A and B are movable horizontally in the chamber 16 and are operable between positions Where they are free of or out of register with the openings 17 and 20 and positions where they extend across the lower end of the opening 20. The members A and B are substantially alike in construction and configuration and are arranged in opposed relation. The member A is normally disposed within the inner end of the chamber 16, while the valve member B is normally disposed in the outer end portion of the chamber 16. The members A and B are flat, substantially rectangular parts, and are horizontally disposed within the body 10. In accordance with the invention, the valve members A and B are movable toward and away from one another in a horizontal plane normal to the longitudinal axes of the openings 17 and 20.

In accordance with the broader aspects of the invention, the closure members or valve members A and B may be slidably supported in the chamber 16 of the body in various manners. In the embodiments of the invention illustrated in the drawings, a rod or slide 30 is attached to each side of the inner member A. The slides 30 may be rectangular in cross sectional configuration and may be attached to the valve member A by means of screws 31. The slides 30 may be partially countersunk in grooves 32 in the opposite edges of the member A and are slidable in opposed grooves 33 in the walls of the body section 14. The grooves 33 may extend the entire length of the chamber 16 and the slides 30 extend outwardly in the grooves 33 to points beyond the valve member B where they are connected with the operating means 11, as will be hereafter described. Grooves 34 are provided in the opposite edges of the valve member B to slidably pass the slides 30. The slides 30 Operate to slidably support the valve member A in the grooves 33 and slidably carry the outer valve member B.

The valve members A and B are adapted to `co-operate with an annular seat 35 provided around the lower end of the opening 20. The seat 35 is provided on the lower end of an annular flange 36 projecting downwardly into the chamber 16. The valve seat 35 is preferably flat and normal to the longitudinal axis of the opening 20. The tops or upper sides of the valve members A and B are flat and the valve members are positioned so that their upper sides slidably o o-operate with the valve seat 35 when they are operated to the closed position.

The valve members A and B are provided with semicircular vertical notches or recesses 37 in their inner edges to form an opening for passing the drill pipe P and for receiving the plug 12. Packing means is provided on each of the valve members to seal about the pipe P and the plug 12. The packing means includes a body 38 of resilient and expansible packing carried by each valve member. The packing 38 may be formed of rubber or a suitable rubber composition and may extend throughout the entire lengths of the inner edges lof the valve members to provide an effective seal when the control valve is in operation. The packing 38 is disposed in recesses 40 in the valve members. The recesses 40 may be substantially semi-circular and their lower walls may be curved upwardly and outwardly from the innersides of the valve members to the upper sides of the valve members. The upper or outer ends of the recesses 40 which occur at the upper sides of the valve members A and B are semi-circular and are located so that the packing 38 seals with the seat 35 when the valve membersA are in the operated position. The packing 38 completely fills the recesses 40 so that it presents effective sealing faces at the inner edges of the valve members and at the upper sides of the valve members. Vertical ribs 41 may extend through the recesses 40 to reinforce the valve members and to aid in expanding the packing 38. The ribs 41 may be spaced apart circumferentially and may be of elliptical cross section to allow the packing 38 to be expanded into effective sealing engagement with the object in the recesses 37 and with the seat 35 when the valve members A and B are in pressural engagement with each other.

The means 11 for operating the valve members A and B is in the nature of a screw means and includes a single screw-threaded stem 43 for operating both the valve members. The stem 43 extends horizontally into the chamber 16 through an opening 42 in the end plate 15. A suitable packing gland 44 may be provided in the opening 42 to seal about the stem 43. The inner end of the shaft or stem 43 is rotatably connected with the outer valve member B. The stem 43 may have a reduced inner end part 45 and a head 46 at its extreme inner end. The head 46 is freely rotatable in a socket 47 in the outer end of the Valve member B. The co-operation of the head 46 with the socket 47 connects the closure member B and the stem 43 for longitudinal movement and permits free rotation of the stem relative to the closure member.

The operating stem 43 is threaded through an opening 48 in a cross heador yoke 49. The operating shaft 01' stem 43 may extend outwardly from the body 10 to any remote point where it may be conveniently operated. Inward movement of the stem 43 may be limited by a stop 52 fixed on the stem and adapted to engage a.

member 52. Outward movement of the yoke 49 is limited by engagement with .the end plate l5, while outward movement of the closure member A is limited by the end wall 25 of the body. Screws 50 attach the slides 30 to yoke 49 so that the slides operatively connect the valve member A with the yoke. It will be readily apparent how turning or rotation of the operating stem 43 causes operation of the two valve members A and B.

'I'he plug 1211s provided to i111 or clo the opening formed by the recesses 37 to completely close on! the lower end of the opening 20. 'I'he plug 12 is carried by one of the valve members and is operable between a position where it is free of or out of vertical alignment with the recess 37 of the member and a position where it is disposed in the recess. In the preferred form of the invention, the plug -12 is carried by the outer valve member B. The plug 12 is preferably mounted on the under side of the valve member B and is mounted on the outer end of a pivoted arm 53 so that it may be swung from a, position below the valve member to a position in the recess 37 from the valve member. 'The plug 12 may be in the nature of a cylindrical part of substantially the same diameter as the drill pipe P. The arm 53 is xed on a horizontal pin 54 pivotally mountedl in openings 55 in a bracket 56 formed on `the lower side of the valve member B. The plug 1 2 may be attached to the outer end of the arm 53 by a pin or bolt 57. An annular flange 58 is provided on the outer end of the arm 53. The flange 58 projects radially outward from the lower end of the plug l2 and is adapted to seat against the under sides of the valve members A and B.

The means 13 for operating the plug 12 is in the nature of a gear means and includes an operating shaft 60 arranged below and parallel with the stem 43. The shaft 60 may extend into the chamber 16 through an opening 61 in the head 15. The inner portion of the shaft 60 may be rotatably supported by a suitable bearing on the bracket 56. A packing gland 62 may be provided on the head to seal about the shaft 60. A worm 63 is provided on the outer end of the shaft 60 to mesh with a worm wheel 64 on the pin 54. The worm 63 and worm wheel 64 are preferably of the self-locking type, so that the plug 12 cannot shift or swing until deliberately operated.

It is believed that the utility of the control valve illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 of the drawings will be readily apparent from the foregoing detailed description. The valve members A and B are normally disposed within the chamber 16 at opposite sides of the flange 36 where they are entirely out of register with the openings 17 and 20. When the valve members are in this position, drilling tools and other objects may be passed through the control head without interference. During drilling operations, the circulation fluid or mud may discharge from the upper end of the well casing C into the chamber 16. The circulation fluid may flow out through the conduit 26. When it is desired to close or seal off the well casing C when a drill pipe P, or the like, is extending into the well, the stem 43 is rotated to advance the valve members A and B toward one another. The

stem 43 may be operated to force the packing 38 of the two members into effective sealing co-operation and into tight sealing engagement with the drill pipe. The valve or control means on the conduit 26 may be closed before the operation of the stem 43. The packing 38 seals tightly with the drill pipe Pfand the valve seat 35 to prevent the passage of fluid upwardly into the opening 20. High fluid pressures acting against `the lower sides of the valve members A and B operate to further compress the packing 38 against the valve face 35 so that an effective seal is provided when high pressures occur.

When it is desired to seal off the upper end of the well casing when there is no drill pipe inthe well, the conduit 26 may be closed and the stem 60 may be operated toswing the plug l2 into the recess 37 of the closuremenrir B. After the plug 12 is in position in the recess 37, the stem 43 may be operated to' shift the members A and B into co-operative engagement across the lower end of` theopening 20. The packing 38 in the recesses 40 is operable to tightly seal about the plug 12 and the flange 58 at the lower end of the plug positively prevents upward movement of the plug between the packing. The valve' members may be readily returned to their normal positions by threadinN the stem 43 outward through the opening 48. The plug 1-2 may be returned to'its normal position by operating the stem or shaft 60.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawings, the plug 12i may be swung into the recesses 37 of the valve members after the valve members are in the fully actuated positions. In this form of the invention, the lower portions ,of the walls in therecesses 371L Vare downwardly and outwardly divergent. The upper end portions of the recesses 37 are cylindrical and are adapted to seal with a drill pipe, or the like. 'Ihe plug 12 is provided with an upwardly and inwardly inclined exterior to co-operate with the divergent wall portions in the recesses 37". A comparatively short cylindrical part may be provided at the upper end of the plug to seal with the cylindric wall portions in the recess. A cylindric part 71 may be provided at the lower end of the plug to co-operate'with short cylindrical parts 73 in the lower ends of the recesses 37B. The other parts of the construction may be identical with those illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive of the drawings.

In employing the yform of the invention illustrated in Fig. 6, the valve members A1 and B1 may be operated to the closed position and the plug 12a may then be swung upwardly into the registering recesses 37B. The tapered or inclined walls of the plug are operable to tightly seal with the inclined wall portions in the recesses 37. The packing yields sufliciently to permit the short cylindrical part 70 of the plug to come into tight sealing engagement with the upper cylindrical parts of the packing 38n upon the plug being forced into the closing position. This embodiment of the invention may be employed to first seal about a drill pipe and may later be employed to close off the well after the pipe has been removed.

Having described only typical, preferred forms of our invention, we do not wish to limit ourselves to the specific details`set forth, but wish to reserve to ourselves any changes or variations that may appear to those skilled in the art or fall within the scope of the following claims:

Having described our invention, we' claim:

1. A control head of the character described including, a body adapted to be mounted on the upper end of a well casing and having an opening to register with the casing and a chamber intersecting the opening, two valve members movable in the chamber and operable to extend across the opening and having recesses forming an opening for passing an object extending through the casing, and a plug carried by one of the members for filling the last mentioned opening.

2. A control head of the character described including, a body adapted to bev mounted on the upper end of a well casing and having an opening to regu'ster with the casing and a chamberintersecting the opening, a seat in the chamber around the opening, valve members movable in the chamber to a position to co-operate with the seat, the valve members having recesses forming an opening adapted to pass an object when in said position, and a plug carried by one of the members operable to a position where it tllls the last mentioned opening.

3. A control head of the character described including, a body adapted to be mounted on the upper end of a well casing having an opening to register with the casing and a chamber intersecting the opening, a seat in the chamber around the opening, valve members movable in the chamber to a position to co-operate with the seat, the valve members having recesses forming an opening adapted to pass an object when in said position, packing on the walls of the last mentioned opening adapted to seal around an object, and a plug carried by one member operable to a position in the recess in said member where it may be sealed about by the packing.

4. A well control valve including, a body adapted to be mounted on a well casing and having an opening registering with the well casing and a chamber intersecting the opening, two closure members operable to close said opening and having recesses adapted to pass an object when in the closed position, a single screw means for operating the two members, and a plug carried by one of the members operable to a position where it lls the recesses when the members are in the closed position.

5. A well control valve including, a body adapted to be mounted on a well casing and having an opening registering with the well casing and a chamber intersecting the opening, two closure members in the chamber ,operable to close said opening and having recesses adapted to pass an object when in the closed position, a-single screwmeans for operatingthe two members, a plug pivotally carried by one of the members operable to a position where it fills the recesses, and gear means for operating the plug.

6. A well control valve including, a body adapted to be mounted on a well casing and having an opening to register with the well casing and a chamber intersecting the opening, two closure members operable to close said opening and having recesses adapted to pass an object when in the actuated position, a .single screw means for operating the two members, discharge means for the chamber'below the closure members, and a plug carried by one member operable to a position inthe recess in said member prior to actuation of the members and adapted to fill the recesses when the members are in the actuated positions.

'7. A control head including, a body adapted to be applied to a well casing having an'opening to register with the casing and a chamber intersecting the opening, two opposed valve members in the chamber, a seat on the body around the opening, packing carried by the members for sealing with the seat and having recesses with walls for engaging an object extending into the well casing. means for operating thevvalve members, and a plug carried by one of the members for illling the said recesses when the members are in the operated position.

8. A control head including, a body adapted to be applied to a well casing having an opening to register with the casing and a chamber intersecting the opening, two opposed valve members in the chamber, a seat on the body around the opening, packing carried by the members for sealing with seat and having recesses with walls for engaging an object extending into the well casing, a plug for completely closing said recesses, and means for operating the plug into the closed position in the recesses including a pin pivotally mounting the plug on a member, an operating shaft, and gear means operatively connecting the shaft and pin.

9. A control head including, a body adapted to be applied to a well casing having an opening to register with the casing and a chamber intersecting the opening, two opposed valve members in the chamber, a seat on the body around the opening, packing carried by the members for sealing with the seat and having recesses with walls for engaging an object extending into A the well casing, a plug for filling said recesses, and means for operating the plug into position in a recess including a pin pivotally mounting the plug on a member, an operating shaft, a gear on the shaft, and a gear on the pin meshing with the gear on the shaft.

10. A control head of the character described including, a body adapted to be mounted on the upper end of a well casing having an opening to register with the casing and a chamber intersecting the opening, two valve members slidable in the chamber operable to extend across the opening and having recesses forming an opening for passing an object extending through the casing, a plug pivotally carried by one of the members operable to a position where it completely closes the recesses of the two members when the members are extending across the bodyopening, and mechanical means for positively operating the plug between the normal and actuated positions.

11. A control head of the character described including, a body adapted to be mounted on the upper end of 'a well casing having'anopening to registerwith the casing and a chamber intersecting the opening, two valve members shiftable in the chamber and operable to extend across the opening and having recesses forming an opening for passing an object extending through the casing, a plug pivotally carried by one of the members operable between a position out of alignment with the recess of said member anda position in said recess where it may be sealed about by both the members, and means whereby the plug may be operated from a remote point. y

12. A control valve of the character described including, a body adapted to be applied tothe upper end of a well casing having an opening to register with the casing and a chamber intersecting the opening, there being a seat on the wall of the chamber around said opening, valve members in the chamber operable between positions free of the opening and positions Where they extend across said opening, packing cari ried by the members for sealing with the seat including, a body adapted to be mounted on the upper end of a well casing having an opening in register with the casing and a chamber intersecting the opening, two valve members slidable in the chamber operable to extend across the opening and having recesses forming an opening for passing an object extending through the casing, the recesses having tapered portions, a tapered plug carried by one of the members for tting the tapered portions of the recesses to ll the opening formed by the recesses when the valve members extend across the body opening, and gear means for operating the plug.

HARRY P. WICKERSHAM. JAMES O. TOW. 

